A one night stay that felt like a week´s holiday.
Alongside the traditional hotels, cabins and campsites that shape the typical Norwegian tourism landscape, there´s a new breed of quirky and innovative places to stay popping up. We´ve stayed several times at the treetop cabins near Horten for example (future post), and are eager to try any more we can afford, so when we spotted an advert in a magazine to spend a night in this bird box concept, we couldn´t book fast enough. To say it didn´t disapppoint is an understatement.
Despite the logistical challenge of needing to take most of the cooking and eating equipment with us (and the unrealistic hope of minimal but effective packing falling by the wayside when the cutlery was left at home), it sounded like the perfect retreat, right on the lakeside edge – and, not to exaggerate, it was! We found it to be one of the most relaxing back to nature in comfort experiences we have had to date and it´s a challenge to find images that do it justice, but I´ll try. (see my Instagram account for reels and more images) htpps://instagram.com/wanderlustneverfades/
Bascially there are two structures on pillars, one to sleep in (the big double bed is divine) and one for the shower and toilet. The latter is an organic one that works just fine and for the shower you heat a bucket of water over the camp fire (or gas stove we took with us) then set it under the pump system and voilà! It´s about 100m down the hillside to the lakeside from where you park and once there you feel it´s just you, the birds, fish and mother nature. Although there are other buildings in the near vicinity you can´t see them from this private corner and you spend your time between the sleeping pod and the jetty (and the rowing boat at your disposal should you so wish).
The owners provided us with lots of useful information and one of the highlights of our stay was watching an osprey couple screeching and flying around, hovering around their nest on an offshore island, that and just sitting in the chairs on the deck or from the pod itself watching the incredible colours the sky gave us in the time we were there.
Booking is through Airbnb, check-in 1600, check out 1300 the next day. We wished we had booked two nights, but then isn´t that always the case?! They are building an outdoor “gapahuk” which sounds a lot better in Norwegian than lean-to shelter which will make the place more weatherproof but actually this place would be relaxing, I´d say, in any weather!
Booking: http://www.airbnb.no
Location: Amlivatn, near Amdals Verk, Telemark
Owner´s Instagram: https://instagram.com/birdboxtokke/
Wanderlust never fades 